Two amendments to the Criminal Justice Bill seeking the
introduction of abortion now look unlikely to pass as the DUP say they will
vote against it.
The Democratic Unionist Party (DUP) has however asked the Northern Ireland Health Minister to set up a working group to look at how the issue of so called ‘fatal
foetal abnormality’ can be addressed.
Two separate amendments to the Northern Ireland Criminal
Justice Bill, tabled by the Alliance and
the Green Parties, aimed at changing the law on abortion will come to a vote
today Wednesday February 10th, The amendments if approved would
allow abortion of babies with life-limiting disabilities and babies conceived
by criminal acts (rape or incest).
Both the Society for the Protection of Unborn Children and
Precious Life appealed to MLA’s to reject the proposals. These are the most
vulnerable of unborn children and if their legal protection is denied, the
legal protection of all unborn children is brought into question.
Northern Ireland’s Catholic Bishops have also urged Assembly
members to reject the proposed amendments. The Bishops in their statement
rephrased the issue to refer to unborn children with life-limiting conditions,
rather than the pro-abortion definition of ‘fatal foetal abnormality’.
The DUP has asked the Northern Ireland health minister to
set up a working group to look at how the issue of fatal foetal abnormality can
be addressed.
The move comes as MLAs prepare for an assembly debate on
whether to make abortions legal in such cases. The DUP said the issue required
proper consideration by the assembly and executive, and that the Bill was not
intended for this purpose. They have asked Health Minister Simon Hamilton to
set up a working group, including clinicians and people with a legal
background, to make recommendations as to how the issue can be addressed,
including, if necessary, draft legislation. It is to report within six months.
The proposed amendment looks unlikely to pass now that the
DUP has said it will be voting against it.
